Lukashenka: Belarus 'At Gunpoint In Undeclared Cold War'

The president of Belarus says his country is "constantly at gunpoint in an undeclared Cold War."

Speaking at the ceremony honoring World War II veterans in Minsk, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said "some of those in the West are not able to accept that Belarus refuses to become another banana republic dancing to the tune of overseas democracies. They want to strangle us with sanctions, blackmail us. NATO planes are flying along our borders. New military bases are being created."

Lukashenka declared that no one would be able "to force Belarusians to change their course."

Lukashenka, who often has been called Europe's last dictator, has been criticized for human rights violations and persecution of nongovernmental organizations, independent journalists, national minorities, and opposition politicians.